Cougars Freeze Rattlers 13-2

PEORIA, IL - A cold and breezy Wednesday afternoon at Dozer Park turned absolutely freezing for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers as they lost 13-2 to the Kane County Cougars in their temporary home. The Rattlers had an early lead, but could not hold it very long and wound up with their fifth straight loss.
Wisconsin (3-9) went in front three batters into the game. Joantgel Segovia continued his hot hitting with a leadoff double. Demi Orimoloye followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Then, Pat McInerney sent a grounder to first. The force on Orimoloye at second was successful, but the throw to first by shortstop Jasrado Chisholm was wild. That errant throw allowed Segovia to score and give the Rattlers a 1-0 lead.

The Cougars (5-5) struck back in the top of the second. Joey Rose tripled to start the frame. Renae Martinez followed with a ground rule double to drive in the tying run. It appeared that would be all the Cougars would get in the second and Wisconsin starter Nelson Hernández retired the next two batters. Then, Hernández walked three straight Kane County batters to force in Martinez. Luis Silverio was next and he singled to drive in two runs to put Kane County up 4-1.

Kane County added two runs in the top of the third inning. Rose drew a leadoff walk, but was still at first with two outs. Then, Luis Basabe tripled off the wall in right to drive in Rose. A misplay in the outfield allowed Basabe to race for the plate and score without a play for a 6-1 lead.

Franly Mallen and Segovia pulled the Rattlers to within two runs. Mallen doubled to start the inning. Segovia, who is 12-for-26 on this extended road trip, followed with a double. Unfortunately, the double by Segovia was the last hit of the game for the Rattlers.

Cole Stapler, the Kane County starter, retired the last nine batters he faced. He allowed four hits, walked none, and struck out six over five innings.

The Cougars blew the game open in the top of the fourth inning as they sent ten men to the plate and scored four runs. Silverio struck again with an RBI single to start the scoring. Eudy Ramos was next up and he cracked a two-run single. Ramos would score on a wild pitch later in the inning and the Cougars were up 10-2.

Kane County added to their lead in the fifth inning when Silverio knocked in a run with a triple. Silverio would score on another wild pitch for a 12-2 lead.

The only Wisconsin relievers to escape the game unscathed were Robbie Hitt and Gabe Friese. Hitt pitched a perfect seventh and Fries pitched a perfect eighth.

The Rattlers turned to infielder Nick Roscetti to pitch the ninth and he gave up an unearned run on a sacrifice fly by Ramos to account for the final tally.

Seven Wisconsin pitchers combined to walk eleven while allowing a dozen hits.
The final game of this series at Dozer Park is scheduled for Thursday afternoon with the first pitch set for noon. The radio broadcast is on AM1280, WNAM starting with the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino Pregame Show at 11:40am. The broadcast is also available on the Tune In and IHeart Radio apps.